Children's Day 2018

April 23rd is one of our favorite days: National Children's Day! So much fun seeing the kids so celebrated here in this country!
Every year the kids perform traditional (and modern) dances and have such a blast! 

Vienna with some of her best friends.

Isaiah and his classmates looking so handsome!

Apparently they are too cool for Children's Day ;)

Isaiah and his teacher

They danced to the Macarena!!

Vienna (front center) dancing with her class!

Vienna with her teacher

These three right here are always together!

April 2018 in pictures

Easter morning picnic on the beach!

 

I love that my family doesn't mind making random stops to explore things we see by the side of the road.

This kid emptied an entire bottle of shampoo into his bath! Good thing he's cute :)

These sweet friends invited us over for grilled fish (and a TON of other food). We are thankful for their friendship and always so blessed by their hospitality!!

Vienna catching some zzzz's with Mikail :)

There was a "lokma" truck by the bazaar, so of course we had to wait in line for this delicious treat! People hire these guys to give out lokma (which is similar to a glazed donut) in memory of lost loved ones on the anniversary of their death.

Vienna's turn to be our friend's photography subject. I'm not complaining! I love how the pictures turned out - what a beautiful girl, inside and out!

We had to stop and take a picture of the pretty flowers, of course! I love spring!

I was able to get away for a weekend with these 3 ladies who are so dear to my heart! It was such a precious time together, especially knowing that in a few more months we will all be living in different places!

Oh my goodness, we laughed so hard!!

Brooks made Iron Giant with his daddy!

My sweet neighbor stopped by on my birthday to bring me flowers from her garden.

I was so celebrated and loved - breakfast in bed, thoughtful cards and gifts and a wonderful evening with my favorite people in the entire world!

Solveig turned 2 and we had fun celebrating her with a pide picnic!!

Beautiful mama with her daughter! Love these two so much!

Joel doing what he does - a project for a friend!!

Oh that smile, it gets me every time!

Vienna and Isaiah's classes went on a field trip to the museum!

Typical evening at our house. Neighborhood kids and a game of dodge ball!

Waiting and watching from the window seat for friends to arrive

LIFE with friends!

Brooks' turn to be the model. Love his farmer themed pictures, it was so Brooks!!

April is my favorite month in Turkey - the poppies are in full bloom and evening walks are magical!

I made playdoh with Isaiah's kindergarten class one morning.

LADIES RETREAT! So very thankful to have had two weekends away this month to be with other women, to laugh, cry, rest, read the Word together and be encouraged! It was so good for my soul!

Pide for lunch with friends at our favorite spot. The kids enjoyed a front row seat to watch the action!

A perfect evening!

Nothing better than a Friday evening spent at the beach with some of your favorite people. 
 

Saturday adventures:hiking to castle ruins on a mountain top. We did this last year as a family and decided to do it again and bring some friends along for the fun.It was definitely a HOT hike, but the views (and the company) were so worth it!

It's finally mulberry season!!

Beautiful old doors in a nearby town.